Ultralight Waterproof Bivy

[charvey9]

I've been using the OR Advanced bivy for awhile now, and although it has treated me well the 32oz weight leaves some room for improvement. I also plan on using a floorless tipi as a spike on my longer trips this season, but still want a completely waterproof bivy for my out and backs. I don't want to pack a tarp or anything else to keep me dry other than the bivy. I got in the habit of carrying my bag and bivy even on day trips, and they regularly became overnighters just because I didn't want to go home yet.

After some digging, here are the three bivys I'm looking at. Although, if anyone has any other recommendations I'd like to hear about them.

Mountain Laurel Designs eVENT Soul Bivy 13oz $355
Marmot Alpinist Bivy 15oz $200
MSR AC Bivy 16oz $200

Any of these would save me over a pound of pack weight, and the Marmor or MSR seem to be the value. However, only if they are waterproof and work well. Does anyone have any experience with any of these?

 

[Lawnboi]

ID bugaboo is another one to add to the list. 1lb 6oz so a little heavier than the ones your looking at. Great bivy, and I will never own a bivy that is not made out of the event material. Really helps on cutting down on condensation. It has a nice roomy cut and I really like the way it zips. I have never had a serious condensation issue in this bivy either so that's a big plus. I usually use it with a paratarp, but have used it alone on multiple occasions where I didn't feel the tarp was needed or I was sleeping in a cave or on a ledge.

 

[mdog]

Borah Gear has an Event bivy for $160-plus and wieghs 20 oz.
http://borahgear.com/eventbivy.html

 

[CtP]

Ti goat. That's where im headed. Lightweight and good price

 

[bbrown]

Ti goat. That's where im headed. Lightweight and good price

For what its worth the Ti Goat is water resistant - not water proof. I have the ptarmigan and it is light, well built and a nice piece.

 

[charvey9]

Thanks for responses. I ended up going with the MLD eVENT Soul bivy. Fingers crossed, it is the last bivy i'll ever need to buy.

 

[CtP]

For what its worth the Ti Goat is water resistant - not water proof. I have the ptarmigan and it is light, well built and a nice piece.

Sounds good, for the price and weight it's hard to beat. I always have a LW shelter in the pack so they will pair up well. Heard some great reviews from the field.

How has your experience been with the ptarmigan? I've been eyeing the new kestrel.

 

[bbrown]

Sounds good, for the price and weight it's hard to beat. I always have a LW shelter in the pack so they will pair up well. Heard some great reviews from the field.

How has your experience been with the ptarmigan? I've been eyeing the new kestrel.

Its been perfect for my needs which are I always use it in my floorless shelter, keeps me on my pad and protects my sleeping gear from water, dirt and bugs. I honestly would have no concerns tucking up under a nice spruce and not bothering with a tarp or tent.

My only complaint is no side zip can make it a pain to get in and out of. I like the looks, cost and specs on the Kestral but my only concern is my bag is a right hand zip and the zip is on the left.

 

[idig4au]

Thanks for responses. I ended up going with the MLD eVENT Soul bivy. Fingers crossed, it is the last bivy i'll ever need to buy.

Any experience with this yet?

 

[jherald]

Anyone use the OR Helium Bivy? It comes in at 16 Oz., waterproof breathable Pertex Shield shield.

 

[charvey9]

Any experience with this yet?

I have it all seam sealed up and ready to go, just haven't had a chance for an over nighter yet. All I can say is it is light, and pretty roomy for the weight. They are large in the head area, enough space to get extra gear in and out of the weather if needed.

I'm planning to get out and test it above the snow level later this month, and will let you know how it goes.

 

[charvey9]

Any experience with this yet?

I finally had a chance to get out and test lots of new gear the other day. Spring bear opens here on 4/1, and I decided to go check out the spot I want to hunt. Needless to say, there was still a ton of snow up there and I had to snowshoe in almost 5 miles to the spot I wanted to camp for the night. The bad news was the I did not see any sign of another living thing above the snow line, so the bears are still sleeping. However, it was a great gear check for lots of new items including the bivy.

I just spent one night up there sleeping under a MLD Tipi, but the bivy did just fine. Temps hovered right around freezing during most of the day, and dropped into the mide 20's at night. This is the first eVent material I have owned, and was extremely impressed with the breathability. Not a drop of condensation on the inside of the eVent material. The cuben fiber bottom was a little different, and since I spent half the night sleeping on my stomach and breathing on the cuben fiber it did have a little condensation in the head area of the bivy by morning but nothing in the lower part of the bag. If you sleep on your back, and are able to keep the zipper open a few inches for ventelation you should have no problems. Since I was under a Tipi I haven't had the chance to check the waterproof capabilities of the bivy, but it passed this first test well.

Here is part of my trek in


Here is a shot inside the Tipi


And here was my camp at night

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Burrrr. Looks cold Chad. One word of caution on the top zips bivy's, be careful getting in/out, as you stand a strong chance of ripping the zipper. I have an Oware top zip bivy and I almost ruined the zipper. Luckily I was able to get it back together and took it to the sewing machine & re-enforced both zipper ends.
My next bivy will be a side zip.

Oh a tip... a chunk of tyvek makes an awesome UL snow/ground tarp to put your bivy on.
In the summer it helps protect the bottom of the bivy from twig punctures as well.

Hey, nice pics BTW.
Hunt'nFish